Local clergyman visits Cuba
Winston Lawson
The Rev. Winston Lawson, of the First Presbyterian Church in Lehigh Acres, recently returned from Cuba with other Presbyterian ministers from Florida.
They were invited by a group of Presbyterians in Cuba, who want a partnership with the churches in this region.
“We were there to blaze the trail for President Obama, who I think is going to Cuba this week to meet with the government to renew relations with Cuba,” Lawson said. “We’re going to invite the Cubans to send some of their ministers to some of our Presbyterian churches.”
Lawson discovered how friendly the average Cuban is. He also found out that Cubans are free to attend any church and that many of them worship on Sundays.
One Sunday when he attended one of the churches, he said it was filled with people inside and many standing outside.
Lawson said most Americans believe that Cuba had abolished freedom of religion and that the Cubans were not allowed to practice their religious faith.
“That is what we’ve been taught to believe. However, what we saw on Sundays were large gatherings of Cubans attending the various churches in Havana and around the island nation,” Lawson said.
He said some members with religious backgrounds also serve in Cuba’s Parliament.
Lawson noted that parts of Cuba were beautiful. Tourism is a big attraction with travelers coming from other nations of the world, but not the United States, which has had an embargo on travel to Cuba for half a century.
“The people we met are happy that America and Cuba are on the path of friendship once again,” Lawson said. “They are looking forward to the end of the embargo from America and are excited that the two governments will become friendly.”
During the five-day trip, Lawson said attendance at worship services was very high at the four churches they visited.
“They are a vibrant people, those we met on the streets. When we arrived after flying out of Miami, we were the Presbyterians’ guests. They had their church bus at the airport to take us into Havana. They gave us a wonderful meal and a great welcome,” he said.
Lawson said over the years that Cuba and the United States have not been friendly toward one another, there is a noticeable lack of care for the Cuban infrastructure.
“There is a real need for things to be cleaned up and painted,” he said.
Lawson noted one of the main churches had constructed a water purification plant for the church and has extended it throughout the community in neighborhoods around the church in Havana.
“We like to think that they are providing the ‘water of life,’ and that is what they are doing,” he said. “The church is maintained by its many members that filled the church when we were there.”
“It had been a dwelling with needed help,”?he said. “A woman who was paid a tremendous amount of money after several years of a halt to her pension, gave half of what she received to the church, which with the help of members rebuilt the church.”
“It is interesting to note that many of our own churches in America are not growing as fast as is happening in Cuba,” he said.
Lawson noted that Cuba is just 90 miles from Key West and they are the closest Presbyterian churches in the United States.
“It’s a good thing we are doing,”?he said. “I think we will have a great partnership.”
Local clergyman visits Cuba
Winston Lawson
The Rev. Winston Lawson, of the First Presbyterian Church in Lehigh Acres, recently returned from Cuba with other Presbyterian ministers from Florida.
They were invited by a group of Presbyterians in Cuba, who want a partnership with the churches in this region.
“We were there to blaze the trail for President Obama, who I think is going to Cuba this week to meet with the government to renew relations with Cuba,” Lawson said. “We’re going to invite the Cubans to send some of their ministers to some of our Presbyterian churches.”
Lawson discovered how friendly the average Cuban is. He also found out that Cubans are free to attend any church and that many of them worship on Sundays.
One Sunday when he attended one of the churches, he said it was filled with people inside and many standing outside.
Lawson said most Americans believe that Cuba had abolished freedom of religion and that the Cubans were not allowed to practice their religious faith.
“That is what we’ve been taught to believe. However, what we saw on Sundays were large gatherings of Cubans attending the various churches in Havana and around the island nation,” Lawson said.
He said some members with religious backgrounds also serve in Cuba’s Parliament.
Lawson noted that parts of Cuba were beautiful. Tourism is a big attraction with travelers coming from other nations of the world, but not the United States, which has had an embargo on travel to Cuba for half a century.
“The people we met are happy that America and Cuba are on the path of friendship once again,” Lawson said. “They are looking forward to the end of the embargo from America and are excited that the two governments will become friendly.”
During the five-day trip, Lawson said attendance at worship services was very high at the four churches they visited.
“They are a vibrant people, those we met on the streets. When we arrived after flying out of Miami, we were the Presbyterians’ guests. They had their church bus at the airport to take us into Havana. They gave us a wonderful meal and a great welcome,” he said.
Lawson said over the years that Cuba and the United States have not been friendly toward one another, there is a noticeable lack of care for the Cuban infrastructure.
“There is a real need for things to be cleaned up and painted,” he said.
Lawson noted one of the main churches had constructed a water purification plant for the church and has extended it throughout the community in neighborhoods around the church in Havana.
“We like to think that they are providing the ‘water of life,’ and that is what they are doing,” he said. “The church is maintained by its many members that filled the church when we were there.”
“It had been a dwelling with needed help,”?he said. “A woman who was paid a tremendous amount of money after several years of a halt to her pension, gave half of what she received to the church, which with the help of members rebuilt the church.”
“It is interesting to note that many of our own churches in America are not growing as fast as is happening in Cuba,” he said.
Lawson noted that Cuba is just 90 miles from Key West and they are the closest Presbyterian churches in the United States.
“It’s a good thing we are doing,”?he said. “I think we will have a great partnership.”
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